Arthur Miller

Willy Loman – main character (salesman) Biff Loman – 34 year old son Linda Loman – loving wife Happy Loman – 32 year old son Ben – Willy’s brother Charley – Willy’s next door neighbor Bernard – Charley’s son, successful lawyer, Biffs bff The Woman – Willy’s mistress

Linda asks Willy to ask his boss to let him work in New York so that he won’t overwork himself and be as tired due to his old age. Willy’s son, Biff, moves back home to live with Happy, Linda and Willy. The tension rises as everyone lives in the household again. Linda is worried about Willy overworking, Biff and Happy are always arguing. Biff doesn’t trust his father after a certain occurrence in which Willy was unfaithful to Linda. Willy loses his job after going to ask if he could work in New York, his boss thought he was just to old to keep being a salesman. Willy’s reputation went down. Willy tries to commit suicide on multiple times. In the end, he committed suicide by crashing his car into a bridge.

The American Dream Willy believed in the American Dream and strides for it Abandonment Willy’s dad, brother and son all end up leaving Willy at some point in the play Betrayal Willy betrays his family by cheating on his wife with another woman Willy also believes Biff betrays him by not following in his footsteps Neglection Both Happy and Linda feel negelcted by Willy Happy and Linda feel neglected because Willy does not pay attention to either of them

Seeds Shows Willy’s opportunity to prove the worth as a salesman and a father He tries to grow a garden but fails to  not being able to provide food, etc. Diamonds Tangible wealth and failed life (b/c Ben got fortune off diamonds) Pass material items on to offspring Linda’s stocking Betrayal and sexual infidelity New stockings = financially stable to provide for family The rubber hose Literal death by inhaling gas parallels the metaphorical death that Willy feels in his struggle to afford such a basic necessity, heat. (always worrying about the gas bill)

BEN: The jungle is dark but full of diamonds, Willy BEN (with greater force): One must go in to fetch a diamond out. Ben encourages Willy to enter the “jungle” finally and retrieve this elusive diamond—that is, to kill himself for insurance money in order to make his life meaningful.

WILLY (longingly): Can’t you stay a few days? You’re just what I need, Ben, because I — I have a fine position here, but I — well, Dad left when I was such a baby and I never had a chance to talk to him and I still feel — kind of temporary about myself Willy feels abandoned by his father and now his brother. He feels like he had no one to look up to when growing up. To show him how to be a man and care for his family, which is why he believes so much in the American Dream because that’s all he knows about caring for a family

THE WOMAN: You had two boxes of size nine sheers for me, and I want them! WILLY: Here, for God’s sake, will you get outa here! Betraying Linda because he is giving the woman Linda’s stocking while she has to keep sewing hers so they won’t have holes He lied to Biff while being caught redhanded at the hotel

WILLY: Oh, Ben, I always knew one way or another we were gonna make it, Biff and I! Willy is always talking about Biff and supporting Biff in all he does. Happy usually never gets support for his achievements from his father. Which leads Happy and Linda to have a closer bond because they are both neglected